Sheet feeding apparatus



y 4, 1963 c. R. HOLLIS 3,089,696

- SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS Filed April 14, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 L 4 INVENTOR.

CLINTON R.HOLLIS FIG.| al [LAW ATTORNEY m May 14, 1963 c. R. HOLLIS 3,089,596

SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS Filed April 14, 1961 s Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.2

INVENTOR.

CLINTON R.HOLLIS ATTORNEY y 14, 1963 c. R. HOLLIS 3,089,696

SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS Filed April 14, 1961 5 Shets-Sheet :5

INVENTOR.

CLINTON R.HOLL|S [Hawk ATTORNEY y 14, 1953 R. HOLLIS 3,089,696

May 14, 1963 Filed April 14, 1961 C. R. HOLLIS SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

CLINTON R.HOLLIS ATTORNEY hate 3,089,696 SHEET FEEDlNG APPARATUS Clinton R. Hollis, Camden, Arln, assignor to International Paper Company, New York, NJEL, a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 14, 1961, Ser. No. 103,162 10 Claims. (Cl. 271-49) This invention relates to the handling of columns of piled flexible materials. More particularly, it relates to the separation of one or more fiat sheets or tubes from a stack of a number of them without adversely affecting the alignment of the stack or of the remaining individual sheets or tubes.

It has been found that, with the advent of lighter and flexible materials such as the extensible papers useful in the production of multiwall bags, the Withdrawal of an individual collapsed tube of such material from a pile of like tubes, particularly from the bottom of the pile, gives rise to a novel problem. Such a withdrawal, especially when it is repeated with each descent of a fresh tube to the bottom of the pile, causes the next following or all of the remaining tubes to creep forward in the direction of withdrawal and, thereby, to lose its or their alignment in the stack or pile. Such withdrawals and creeping, then, portend and ultimately bring about interruptions of the desirably continuous flow of the tubes to other automatic or mechanical processing equipment and these interruptions can disrupt production schedules when they occur during, for instance, the movement of the tubes from the tube former to a bag closure former or 'bottomer.

It is an object of the present invention to perfect the withdrawal of flat sheets or tubes from stacks or piles of the same and to eliminate creepim and misalignment in and of the stacks or piles from which the sheets or tubes are being withdrawn. It is a further object to secure the separation and withdrawal of one or more of the sheets or tubes from the bottom of a stack or pile of the same and the retention of the remaining sheets or tubes in a position from which they cannot creep. Again, it is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, as well as economical, device suitable for ordering the feeding of flat, multiwall bag tubes into a bag bottomer such as the well-known Coty bottomer from columns of such tubes.

A feeder attachment for a multiwall bag bottomeris comprised of (1) a vacuum generating means, (2) amovable vacuum arm means, (3) first fluid connecting means between the vacuum generating and arm means, (4) a movable vacuum communicating means, (5) second fluid connecting means between the vacuum arm and communicating means, and (6) vacuum arm drive means and, in a preferred embodiment, it is comprised of (1) a suction pump or the like, (2) a pipe or tube at least partially rotatable about a hub having its axle within first journal means, (3) an end of the pipe or a length of hose or the like by which the pipe interior and the suction pump are pneumatically joined, (4) a cup at its upper end open to the air and at its lower end fixedly mounted on the arm, (5) holes through the lower end of the cup and the wall of the pipe by which the cup and pipe interiors are pneumatically joined, and (6) an arbor at least par tially rotatable within second journal means, brackets fixedly mounted on the arbor and on the pipe, and a connecting rod between the two brackets. The other end of the pipe can be closed or, preferably, intermittently openable by means of a gate, valve, etc. port mechanism is, broadly, comprised of an arcuate blade and blade drive means and, in a preferred version, of an arcuate blade, the edge of which has a tapered rise, and a spindle at least partially rotatable Within third journal means and on which the blade is fixedly mounted, the arbor of the vacuum sub-assembly, and first drive transmission means between the spindle and the arbor. Similarly, the stack clamping mechanism is comprised of a lever and lover drive means and, preferably, the clamping drive means include a mandrel at least partially rotatable within four journal means and on which the clamping lever is fixedly mounted, the spindle of the stack support sub-assembly, and second drive transmission means between the mandrel and the spindle. The housing, in turn, provides sites, e.g., bearing seats, for the first, third, and fourth journal means.

In use, the feeder attachment housing is positioned along the side of and toward the back end of the flat bed plate which generally supports the stack of collapsed tubes. The corner of the bed plate nearest the attachment is modified with a rabbet, preferably obtusely angled, over which the corresponding back corner of the stack can extend and in or below which the stack can be contacted on its under surface by the vacuum communicating means, e.g., cup, of the attachments vacuum sub-assembly and in which the attachments stack support mechanism can operate effectively. By so positioning the housing, the stack clamping sub-assembly is properly placed with respect to the stack on the bed plate.

For a clearer understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the attached drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the feeder attachment of the invention juxtaposed with a multiwall bag bottomer bed plate;

FIGURE 2 is a front end view of the device of FIG- URE 1 taken along lines 22;

FIGURE 3 is a side View of the device of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an isometric view of the device of FIGURE 1;

. FIGURE 5 is an isometric view of the housing subassembly of the device of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is an isometric View of the device of FIGURE 1 together and in juxtaposition with a multiwall bag bottomer, its bed plate, and a stack of piled flat bag tubes thereon; and,

FIGURE 7 is a side view of a vacuum releasing mechanism for and of the attachment of FIGURE 1.

.As best depicted in FIGURES 1 to 3, the vacuum sub-assembly of the attachment includes suction cup 10 fixedly mounted on hollow arm 11. Holes 12 in the base of cup 1%) lead through the mounting to the interior of pipe 11. One end, not shown, of pipe 11 is connected to the vacuum pump, also not shown, which creates the suction in cup 1%, while the other pipe end can be closed. Between the cup mounting and the other end of the pipe, pipe 11 is bracketed by one end of rocker arm 13 which acts as a spoke to a hub (not shown) the axle 14 for which can be seen journaled in bearings within member 36 of attachment housing 28 in a cut-away portion of FIGURE 1; The other end of rocker arm 13 is linked, by means of ball joint 53 thereon, to connecting rod 15 and ball joint 16 on bracket 17. Bracket 17 is, in turn, fixedly mounted on drive arbor '18 which is journaled at 9 in a portion of the frame of a multiwall bag tube The stack sup- 3 bottomer. FIGURES 1 to 3 also show the juxtaposition of the vacuum sub-assembly with bed plate 20 of the bottomer in the area of rabbet 21 of such bed plate.

The stack support sub-assembly of the invention is best depicted in FIGURES l to 4. It includes arcuate blade 22 having a tapered rise from its leading edge 23, spindle 24 on which blade 22 is fixedly mounted, arbor 13, and bevel gears 25 and 26 fixedly mounted on spindle 24 and arbor 18 respectively. Spindle 24 is journaled in attachment housing member 27, the bearings within which are shown in a cut-away portion of FIGURE 2.

As also shown in FIGURES 1 to 4, the stack clamping mechanism includes lever 29, lever bracket 30 which fixedly mounts lever 29 on mandrel 31, spindle 24, and bevel gears 32 and 33 fixedly mounted on mandrel 31 and spindle 24, respectively. Mandrel 31 is journaled in housing members 34 and 35, the bearings within which are shown in several cut-away portions of FIGURE 1. Housing 28 and its members are, of course, best seen in FIGURE 5.

The operation of the feeder attachment of the invention is best understood by reference to FIGURES 3, 4, and 6. Push rod unit 37 links arbor 18 with a power source for its rotational movement by means of driven bracket 38, driver bracket 39, and cam follower bracket 49. Preferably, push rod 37 is given an alternating or reciprocating motion by the power source (not shown) and, thereby, imparts to arbor 18 a clockwise and then counter-clockwise rotation.

A clockwise rotation of arbor 18 (as seen in FIGURE 3) imparts a left-to-right movement to bracket 17 and connecting rod 15 (as seen in FIGURE 1). This, in turn, causes rocker arm 13 and pipe 11 (as seen in FIGURE 3) to rotate in a clockwise manner about axle 14. As a result, cup moves upwardly through an arc of about 60 into the area of rabbet 21 on bed plate 20 of the bottomer and, somewhat before, into contact with the under surface of stack 41 of collapsed bag tubes thereon. This surface is exposed to this contact from below at the outset when the back end corner of stack 41 is made to extend over r-abbet 21.

Again, a counter-clockwise rotation of arbor 18 (as seen in FIGURE 3) imparts a right-to-left movement to bracket 17 and connecting rod (as seen in FIGURE 1). This causes rocker arm 13 and pipe 11 (as seen in FIGURE 3) to rotate in a counter-clockwise manner about axle 14. As a result, cup 10 moves downwardly out of the area of rabbet 21, taking with it, because of the suction therein, the bottom one of the tubes piled in stack 41 (see FIGURE 6).

Now, as cup 10 is moved downwardly and arbor 18 moves counter-clockwise (as seen in FIGURE 3), bevel gear 25, by virtue of its engagement with bevel gear 26 on arbor 18, rotates counter-clockwise (as seen in FIG- URE 4). This turns spindle 24 and blade 22 in a similar direction and permits the horizontal introduction of blade 22 between the tube being held by cup 10 and the tubes remaining in stack 41 on bed plate 20. Blade 22 is capable of moving in an arc of about 60 in this manner. Further, as cup 10 is moved downwardly and spindle 24 turns counterclockwise (as seen in FIGURE 4), bevel gear 33 on spindle 24 and bevel gear 32 on mandrel 31 are turned counter-clockwise (as seen in FIGURE 4). This movement imparts a counter-clockwise rotation to mandrel 31 and lever 29 afiixed thereto and brings the lever down into contact with the side of stack 41 on bed plate 20. It also accomplishes the clamping in place of a significant portion of stack 41 between lever 29 and blade 22 and above the tube separated from its base by cup 10. See FIGURE 6.

As soon as the clamping action is efiected, the draw rolls or the like of the bottomer can begin drawing the front end of the tube separated at its rear end by cup 10 into the bottoming apparatus without initiating any creeping in the tubes so clamped or in the tubes piled above the tubes so clamped. This withdrawal can be effected without an atfirmative releasing of the suction in cup 11? vhen the vacuum equipment creating it is susceptible of adjustment to a degree fine enough not to give rise to excessive tensions in the tube material. But, where such adjustment is not available or even where it is, it is either necessary or preferable to install intermittent vacuum releasing means on the feeder attachment of the invention.

Broadly, the intermittent vacuum releasing subassembly of the attachment comprises vacuum arm vent means, third fiuid connecting means between the vacuum arm and vent means, vent gate means, and gate opening means. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG- URES 1, 3, 4, and 7, they comprise the end 42 of pipe 11 not connected to the vacuum pump; portal plate 43 having an annular boss 44 on one side and in receipt of pipe end 42, a stud 45 having cap piece 51 and pin 46 on the other side, and a hole 50 therethrough and in registry with the annular opening of boss 44; a pawl 47 mounted for rotation on stud 45 and over hole 50 in plate 43; a dowel 48 afiixed to pawl 47; a compression spring 52 on stud 45 between pawl 47 and cap piece 51; and, a tension spring 49 connecting pin 46 and dowel 48 and passing around stud 45 and spring 52.

The operation of the vaccum releasing sub-assembly is as follows: when cup 10 moves downwardly by virtue of the counter-clockwise turning of rocker arm 13 (as seen in FIGURE 3), portal plate 43 is also moved in a generally counter-clockwise direction. This movement brings the lower end of pawl 47 into contact with a portion of the bottomer frame 53 to which the whole feeder attachment can be affixed and urges the pawl to rotate in a clockwise manner about stud 45 and to uncover hole 50 in plate 43 which leads to the end 42 of hollow vacuum arm 11. Any such uncovering, of course, substantially releases the vacuum in arm 11, reduces the suction in cup 10 and facilitates the withdrawal of that tube to which cup 10 has been clinging into the tube bottoming operation. Then, when the direction of rotation of rocker arm 13 is changed, the bias provided by spring 49 on dowel 48 of pawl 47 causes the pawl to re-cover the hole in plate 43 and the vacuum in arm 11 and suction cup 10 to improve for the next cycle of the attachments operation in which the cup 10 and lever 29 are raised and the blade 22 is horizontally withdrawn from beneath stack 41 by swinging through an arc of about 60.

What is claimed is:

1. A feeder attachment for a multiwall bag bottomer fed from a stack of flat bag tubes having a vacuum subassembly comprising a vacuum generating means, a movable vacuum arm means, first fluid connecting means between the vacuum generating means and the vacuum arm means, a movable vacuum communicating means, second fluid connecting means between the vacuum arm means and the vacuum communicating means, and vacuum arm drive means; a stack support sub-assembly comprising an arcuate blade and blade drive means, the blade drive means including the vacuum arm drive means; a stack clamping sub-assembly comprising a clamping lever and lever drive means, the lever drive means including the blade drive means; and, a housing.

2. A feeder attachment for a multiwall bag bottomer fed from a stack of flat bag tubes having a vacuum subassembly comprising a vacuum generating means, a rotatable vacuum arm means, first fluid connecting means between the vacuum generating means and the vacuum arm means, a rotatable vacuum communicating means, second fluid connecting means between the vacuum arm means and the vacuum communicating means, and vacuum arm drive means; a stack support sub'assembly comprising an arcuate blade and blade drive means, the blade drive means including first drive transmission means between the blade and the vacuum arm drive means; a stack clamping sub-assembly comprising a clamping lever and lever drive means, the lever drive means including a second drive transmission means between the clamping lever and the blade drive means; and, a housing.

3. A feeder attachment for a multiwall bag bottomer fed from a stack of fiat bag tubes having a vacuum subassembly comprising a vacuum generating means, a rotatable vacuum arm means, first fluid connecting means between the vacuum generating means and the vacuum arm means, a rotatable vacuum communicating means, second fluid connecting means between the vacuum arm means and the vacuum communicating means, and vacuum arm drive means; a vacuum releasing sub-assembly comprising vacuum arm vent means, third fiuid connecting means between the vacuum arm means and the vacuum arm vent means, vent gate means, and gate opening means; a stack support sub-assembly comprising an arcuate blade and blade drive means, the blade drive means including first drive transmission means between the blade and the vacuum arm drive means; a stack clamping lever and lever drive means, the lever drive means including a second drive transmission means between the clamping lever and the blade drive means; and, a housing.

4. The attachment of claim 1 in combination with a flat bottomer bed plate.

5'. The attachment of claim 1 in juxtaposition with a flat bottomer bed plate near its back end.

6. The attachment of claim 1 in juxtaposition With a flat bottomer bed plate near a corner of its back end.

7. The attachment of claim 1 in juxtaposition with a flat bottomer bed plate near a corner of its back end, the corner having a rabbet.

8. The attachment of claim 1 wherein the arcuate blade and the clamping lever are disposed to move in substantially perpendicular planes.

9. The attachment of claim 2 wherein the arcuate blade and the clamping lever are disposed to move in substantially perpendicular planes.

10. The attachment of claim 3 wherein the arcuate blade and the clamping lever are disposed to move in substantially perpendicular planes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,808,706 Novick June 2, 1931 2,052,632 Klemm Sept. 1, 1936 2,315,646 Novick Apr. 6, 1943 2,954,225 Novick Sept. 27, 1960 

1. A FEEDER ATTACHMENT FOR A MULTIWALL BAG BOTTOMER FED FROM A STACK OF FLAT BAG TUBES HAVING A VACUUM SUBASSEMBLY COMPRISING A VACUUM GENERATING MEANS, A MOVABLE VACUUM ARM MEANS, FIRST FLUID CONNECTING MEANS BETWEEN THE VACUUM GENERATING MEANS AND THE VACUUM ARM MEANS, A MOVABLE VACUUM COMMUNICATING MEANS, SECOND FLUID CONNECTING MEANS BETWEEN THE VACUUM ARM MEANS AND THE VACUUM COMMUNICATING MEANS, AND VACUUM ARM DRIVE MEANS; A STACK SUPPORT SUB-ASSEMBLY COMPRISING AN ARCUATE BLADE AND BLADE DRIVE MEANS, THE BLADE DRIVE MEANS INCLUDING THE VACUUM ARM DRIVE MEANS; A STACK CLAMPING SUB-ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A CLAMPING LEVER AND LEVER DRIVE MEANS, THE LEVER DRIVE MEANS INDLUDING THE BLADE DRIVE MEANS; AND, A HOUSING. 